Spoiler: show
Lie Sun watched the station through the large panorama window in her apartment. It was, as always beautiful, to see the life, out here in space. To see how far humanity had come, to create life where there was none.
But her thoughts were on the other side of that equation, she barely acknowledged the view. After all, that view simply meant they brought dead to places where there was none before.
She heard the voice again. Calling to her, begging, pleading.
“We are a civilian organization, operating legally within this System, cease your attack immediately!”
She had ignored the voice. It was easy at first. Just another voice on the coms.
She took a sip from the glass in her hand. The alcohol burned, as it went down her throat.
But then the voice had gotten desperate.
“For the love of god, please stop shooting! This is a civilian facility! We have no defenses!”
She hadn't listened then either. Or rather she hadn't wanted to listen, she just kept on firing.
It was so easy. Just do nothing, watch the rockets strip first the shields, then the armor. Hear him beg for mercy as the hull disintegrates around him.
“Please! Stop shooting! We are civilians! Oh god ple....”
She took another deep gulp, eyes closed.
She had picked up a few escape pods... but the guy on the coms didn't escape. She wondered why. Why didn't he go? Why not just cut his losses and leave?
Of course, she could have stopped just as easily. But she didn't, she just kept on firing, until his voice stopped.
Another gulp, the alcohol burned in her stomach... or was that her guilt?
She sat down on her couch. Why did she do it? What did it gain her? She snorted. Less work, that was all she gained. It wasn't urgent, it wasn't a matter of life or death. It wasn't even a matter of right or wrong. She was too clearly in the wrong there. It was only a matter of convenience.
She filled her glass again, the alcohol would have been expensive for anyone else and she drank it like water. Two empty bottles stood on the table. But her body could take it, all she felt was a pleasant buzz.
Her mentor, he had know about it, this feeling. She was sure of it.
“One day,” He had said, as they walked through the hangar, inspecting the various modules and containers he had given her, “One day, you'll have a choice. And you will look at what you have, what you can gain and what you can loose. And then you'll make the choice and you will realize, it wasn't a very good choice.” He had shaken his head then. “But if you were in the same situation you will do it all over again. Convenience.”
He had said that word, voice dripping with loathing. She hadn't understood then, couldn't even grasp what choice he was talking about. Still fresh faced right out of the academy. Unsure what to do. He had approached her with an offer.
He would give her money, a lot of money, and materials. All she would have to do is use that money, learn improve and produce. Then pay him back the money, once he needed it.
It had seemed so easy. And hell it was, is, easy. Just do what you want, burn pillage plunder.
Never look back.
She laughed desperately.
Here she sat, in one of the most expensive apartments the universe had to offer. Enjoying riches most people couldn't even contemplate... and she drowned her guilt in alcohol.
She didn't know how long she sat there, contemplating the city below her. How many of these people had killed? How many of them had worked on a capsuleer controlled ship? How many had helped a capsuleer kill innocents?
She wandered over to her terminal, checking the balance. 50 million Isk. More than enough to feed a thousand families for years...
She could do some good with all that money.
She looked at the prices for the skills she needed.
Or she could spend it on something immediately useful to herself.
She briefly considered looking up charity organizations, the Sisters always needed money.
But, she would have to work so hard to regain those 50 million.
She pushed a button, buying the skills, then turned back to her drink.
Convenience...
But her thoughts were on the other side of that equation, she barely acknowledged the view. After all, that view simply meant they brought dead to places where there was none before.
She heard the voice again. Calling to her, begging, pleading.
“We are a civilian organization, operating legally within this System, cease your attack immediately!”
She had ignored the voice. It was easy at first. Just another voice on the coms.
She took a sip from the glass in her hand. The alcohol burned, as it went down her throat.
But then the voice had gotten desperate.
“For the love of god, please stop shooting! This is a civilian facility! We have no defenses!”
She hadn't listened then either. Or rather she hadn't wanted to listen, she just kept on firing.
It was so easy. Just do nothing, watch the rockets strip first the shields, then the armor. Hear him beg for mercy as the hull disintegrates around him.
“Please! Stop shooting! We are civilians! Oh god ple....”
She took another deep gulp, eyes closed.
She had picked up a few escape pods... but the guy on the coms didn't escape. She wondered why. Why didn't he go? Why not just cut his losses and leave?
Of course, she could have stopped just as easily. But she didn't, she just kept on firing, until his voice stopped.
Another gulp, the alcohol burned in her stomach... or was that her guilt?
She sat down on her couch. Why did she do it? What did it gain her? She snorted. Less work, that was all she gained. It wasn't urgent, it wasn't a matter of life or death. It wasn't even a matter of right or wrong. She was too clearly in the wrong there. It was only a matter of convenience.
She filled her glass again, the alcohol would have been expensive for anyone else and she drank it like water. Two empty bottles stood on the table. But her body could take it, all she felt was a pleasant buzz.
Her mentor, he had know about it, this feeling. She was sure of it.
“One day,” He had said, as they walked through the hangar, inspecting the various modules and containers he had given her, “One day, you'll have a choice. And you will look at what you have, what you can gain and what you can loose. And then you'll make the choice and you will realize, it wasn't a very good choice.” He had shaken his head then. “But if you were in the same situation you will do it all over again. Convenience.”
He had said that word, voice dripping with loathing. She hadn't understood then, couldn't even grasp what choice he was talking about. Still fresh faced right out of the academy. Unsure what to do. He had approached her with an offer.
He would give her money, a lot of money, and materials. All she would have to do is use that money, learn improve and produce. Then pay him back the money, once he needed it.
It had seemed so easy. And hell it was, is, easy. Just do what you want, burn pillage plunder.
Never look back.
She laughed desperately.
Here she sat, in one of the most expensive apartments the universe had to offer. Enjoying riches most people couldn't even contemplate... and she drowned her guilt in alcohol.
She didn't know how long she sat there, contemplating the city below her. How many of these people had killed? How many of them had worked on a capsuleer controlled ship? How many had helped a capsuleer kill innocents?
She wandered over to her terminal, checking the balance. 50 million Isk. More than enough to feed a thousand families for years...
She could do some good with all that money.
She looked at the prices for the skills she needed.
Or she could spend it on something immediately useful to herself.
She briefly considered looking up charity organizations, the Sisters always needed money.
But, she would have to work so hard to regain those 50 million.
She pushed a button, buying the skills, then turned back to her drink.
Convenience...
